MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has a rich cultural heritage. Even before colonizers came, we had been crafting jewelry, weapons, jars and pottery. Further down the timeline, additional skills, techniques and materials were been woven into our innate artistry. All these combined have resulted in cultural products that afford an admirable view of our traditions, rituals, history, society and identity. This is where art conservation and restoration play an important role.
According to art conservation specialist Annali Garcia, “Conservation allows people to take care of cultural heritage for it maintains products of our history. In effect, it gives us the knowledge of who we are.†It is unfortunate that this practice is not that well-known here in the country.
“My line of work arrests the state of degradation. Conservation stops the moment of destruction or decay. It also involves processes to bring it back to its original state, or as close as possible to it. It is an extremely boring job but entails dedication and discipline,†explains Garcia. In a tropical country that is beset with humidity, flooding and sweltering heat, artworks are prone to water damage, mold, mildew and other forms of degeneration.
“There are very few specialists here in the Philippines. Therefore, there is not a big pool to choose from. Sadly, there are also no programs that deal mainly with conservation. There are subjects that are offered but it is mostly theoretical in nature especially since it is a relatively new field here,†she shares.
Garcia received her MA in architectural conservation at the University of Salamanca in Spain and furthered her specialization in restoration of wood, ceramic, paintings and fabrics at the Instituto Per L’arte E Il Restauro in Florence, Italy. “While I use theory as my guideline and roadmap, it is through actual practice where you gain more knowledge. In my almost 10 years of practice, I’ve learned something new with every project. It is also important to keep abreast of the new trends and technology,†says Garcia.
She had to adjust and adapt the familiarity and information she acquired in Europe to the very particular conditions that we have in the Philippines. In addition to this, the availability of materials and the cost to obtain these are hurdles to contend with. “A lot of the stuff I use like solvents, pigments and paints are imported from France and the US. It is expensive to purchase these materials,†she adds.
For those who may wish to pursue this line of study, Garcia has the following advice: “While it is a plus to know how to paint let me just caution that not all artists are cut out for this. You do not have to fix everything that is broken, artists must control their own creative nature because of this. The danger of over-cleaning is also a problem. This is irreversible. Therefore, having manual skills is extremely important. Having a light hand is a definite plus. More importantly, one must be ready to buckle down to work since it is necessary to have an extensive study of history and stringent discipline.â€
While there may be a seeming lack of professionals in the field, there are ways to promote and increase the number. “There is so much to restore. Having more people trained in conservation and restoration is ideal. In this regard, I feel that current specialists should have more platforms to share each other’s best practices in order to uplift the profession. We can have seminars and workshops to generate more interest and even teach unique skills. We can help each other while building bridges for friendship, tolerance and cooperation with the mission of taking care of our past,†explains Garcia.
It is essential that our history is preserved, recognized and appreciated. A portion of our narrative as a nation can be gleaned from art and culture. Therefore, art conservation in the country should be given due priority. For this to occur, more avenues to encourage this field of specialty should be endorsed and supported. These efforts will, in the long run, build character and instill pride in our uniqueness as Filipinos.